15 Books That Could Change Your Life — What's Yours?

Understanding and engaging your audiences
5) "How to Win Friends & Influence People" by Dale Carnegie. The classic primer to understanding, and using your understanding of, human psychology is fundraiser Pamela Grow’s core guide to more effective relationships and fundraising.

6) "Don’t Make Me Think" by Steve Krug. This book steers Web designers (and other communicators) to understand their audiences' points of view and user experiences — then to design websites to that experience, making it as easy as possible for users to do what your organization wants them to do. Online communicators Kira Marchenese and Eve Simon have both integrated Krug’s guidance in their websites and social-media work.